Modern China Stamp - What Exactly Do I Have Here? (Sars)

Hello, I have just got my hands on 2 stamps in a block, and I am wondering if anyone can help me figure out what they are.

I have 2 stamps, that have the word SARS in a circle of heats, you can see them below.



As you can see, the stamps say ('03) at the top left corner of the stamp. If I search google for "sars stamp china '03" all that it shows up, is an identical design, except it says (80) in the corner, instead of ('03) like mine.

Below is a photo of the ones marked (80), I can find out about these, but I can't find anything on the ones marked ('03) like the ones I have shown above.



Any ideas what it is I have here?

Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severe...ory_syndrome
There was a breakout in 2002 I guess this is a public relations issue. It seems to have originated from Asia.

I have just been told it has something to do with blood donors, that you got them for giving blood. That is all I know thought. What is a public relations issue? (I'm very new to stamp collecting)

"...Between November 2002 and July 2003, an outbreak of SARS* in Hong Kong nearly became a pandemic, with 8,273 cases and 775 deaths worldwide (9.6% fatality) according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Within weeks, SARS spread from Hong Kong to infect individuals in 37 countries in early 2003."

*Severe acute respiratory syndrome"

Thanks for the answers so far.

I was kind of hoping I could get some info, regarding why the ones marked "80" are worth 40 bucks, and you can find info on them, however I can't find any info on the ones I have, marked as "03".

Are mine even rarer than the rare 80 ones? or maybe I have fakes?

Thanks

I notice that the Chinese script at the bottom of yours is different than at the bottom of the '80' stamp.
I can't tell from the scan (it's small), is the 80 a denomination?
Since 2003 was the year of the outbreak, I'd suggest that yours, which say '03, may be labels or cinderellas commemorating the incident.
Just a thought.

In the 2011 Gibbons Part 17 (Greater China), the 80c stamp is #4812, catalog value 20 pence mint, or something less than US 35 cents???

@jamesw Well spotted, yes it does look different, there is no denomination on these ones I have.

I will have to ask my girlfriend when she wakes up what it says, she is a mandarin speaker/reader, see if I can get a translation for what both of them say.

I do have a feeling these are fakes or cinderellas of some kind, the "stamps" seem to be in good condition and unused, but there is no gum of any kind on the back.

I got these for mere cents, so it is no big deal if they are fakes of some kind, just I notice the ones marked 80 as the denomination, are selling for 35 dollars on ebay.

Thanks, I'll drop back in when I have translations.

Ha! In the 2012 Gibbons, these are £46 mint, £28 used!!

For anyone interested, I have found out what they are.

The ones marked '03 where the 80f denomination should be, are not postage stamps. They are sample gifts that were given out in pairs to people who donated blood.

Other than that, I don't know anything else. How many were printed, if they have any value, or anything else.

Sorry to chime in late. As you have learned, they are cinderellas and you've filled in the details.

I just checked to see if Scott had kept up with this price change, and the 2013 edition does value the stamp at $45.00 mnh and $15.00 used, with the prices in italics, indicating that it's an unstable price. (PRC, Scott #3275, issued May 19, 2003)

Scott should just italicize the entire PRC listings.

I know -- apparently the price volatility is the reason that Gibbons just released a new China edition. Since they sell from that catalog, they were forced to issue the new cat just a year or two after the prior edition to update their prices.